Online Communication of Self-injury

Due to widespread stigma (e.g., Lewis & Hasking, 2023; Staniland et al., in 2020), many people who self-injure seek refuge and support online (see Lewis & Seko, 2016). Research from our lab has sought to understand how and why individuals communicate about their NSSI experiences via the internet (e.g., Lewis & Michal, 2014; Lewis et al., , 2012; Rodham et al., 2013), and what impact this may have (e.g., Baker & Lewis, 2013; Lewis & Baker, 2011; Lewis et al., 2012). Stemming from this, findings from our research have informed policy changes that safeguard against access to potentially harmful content (e.g., graphic images) on major social networks.

This stream of our research also resulted in co-creating Self-injury Outreach & Support (SiOS: www.sioutreach.org) with Dr. Nancy Heath (McGill University). SiOS is the first international non-profit initiative for self-injury. It emphasises hope and resilience and provides research-informed content (e.g., coping tips) for people with lived experience alongside guides for families, peers, partners, schools, and health professionals. Since its inception, SiOS has been accesses in 187 countries and has been featured in major news outlets (e.g., CBC, Wall Street Journal), high-impact journals (e.g., British Journal of Psychiatry, JAMA Pediatrics), and is a resource on a number of online mental health and social media platforms.